Father Larry Canavera's Message

Fr. Larry Canavera, Founder of Friends of Haiti, shares the following reflections upon return from the spring medical mission, the first since the earthquake.

1) This was the regularly scheduled spring  medical mission (October and April) that became the largest ever undertaken because of a groundswell of care.  We have been doing missions for 10 years.  Veterans have become friends of the people we go to assist and wanted to get back to Haiti.  Newcomers want to help.  It is a crisis for the Haitian people.  It is an historical benchmark.  The worst has come.  We now need to help recovery and (as the saying now goes) "build back better".

This was the most complex because communication is difficult.  An assessment of needs and conditions could only be approximate.  We did not rush in.  We were already preparing for April before the earthquake.  The needs increased.  Our response expanded.  We conducted 8 clinics instead of the usual 4 or 5.  We went to where our people live instead of setting up in some areas and indicating that they should come to us.   ALL of the people have been suffering.  They vary only in degrees.  There was much gratitude that we care, we come, we came to them.

We had to go without assurances that we could practice in buildings, under roofs.  So, we brought large tents, screen houses and tarps.  We had to go with everyone prepared to sleep in a tent.  We knew that our equipment could/would be used well when we left by the many homeless still seeking better shelter.

2) We were grateful to be able to go and connect with our people.  Observations – they seemed sicker than usual.  Our back home system of volunteers who prepare us to go sent us well equipped with meds and supplies.  We pretty well used up what we had and gave the rest to a poorly-equipped public clinic whose doctors are also our friends.

3) Travel was challenging because of  limited accurate information concerning "off road" driving conditions;  a shortage of gasoline and diesel fuel;  emergencies requiring transporting patients for hospitalization in a country whose hospitals are broken/filled/unable to respond to many needs.  We are very grateful for the U. of Miami – MediShare Hospital that was set up near the airport and was most receptive to help as much as possible.  Our drivers did very well.
We had only minor vehicle problems – which is amazing and a blessing when you see conditions.

4) Reports are still in process as our medical people review the consultation sheets.  Results from 4 of the eight sites:  3150 patients treated.  No reports yet from the other 4 sites nor from the dentists and the people providing reading glasses and sunglasses. (Why the delay?  We are all volunteers and getting back home means getting back to work!)

5) Many, many people continue to sleep outside under tarps/metal roofing or in tents.  The fear of concrete structures is great.  The homeless?  About 1.3 million.

6) Schools are now resuming with plans to run through July  and August.  Numbers are down.  Meal programs – for the most part -- have not been operating.

7) We have a small water/education team on the ground at this time pursuing water purification and following up on the education team that was part of the medical mission.  Our preparations for October are already underway as evaluation and planning continues.  Thank you for your interest and care. 

There is much to do, and you are all a part of that work.